New Delhi: Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian has made a commendable start to the season, particularly following a disappointing 2024 in which the Chennai-based shuttler struggled in the qualifying rounds of numerous tournaments.

The 21-year-old gained significant attention in 2022 when he ascended to the position of junior world No. 1 and subsequently reached the men’s singles final at the BWF World Junior Championships. Transitioning to the senior circuit in 2023, Sankar climbed the rankings and secured a couple of finals, including a victory at the Luxembourg Open, before experiencing a plateau in 2024.

However, this year has marked a rejuvenation for the left-handed player, as he advanced to the quarter-finals of both the Thailand Masters and the Swiss Open, defeating higher-ranked competitors along the way. Notably, in Basel, he achieved a remarkable feat by defeating world No. 2 and three-time World Championships medallist Anders Antonsen in the pre-quarterfinals of the Swiss Open, dominating the final game with a score of 21-5.

“Overall, 2025 has been progressing well for me. Since the Thailand Masters, I have been engaged in a series of strong matches. My training efforts have been yielding results. In January, we dedicated three weeks to training, and the benefits have persisted for 2-3 months,” Sankar remarked from Jakarta, where he is participating in a month-long training camp.

“My game has improved in terms of stroke execution compared to 2024. I have also enhanced my offensive play, demonstrating greater precision in my shots, which has been beneficial.”

The positive outcomes are evident, as Sankar recently achieved his highest career ranking of 56. Nevertheless, the young athlete, whose father is a retired official from the Chennai Port Trust and whose mother is a homemaker, remains driven, understanding that to achieve significant success, he must break into the top 32 in the world. This would enable him to qualify automatically for major tournaments, alleviating the burden of qualifying matches.

Sankar expressed his urgency to break into the top 32 rankings, stating, "I need to enter the top 32 as soon as possible. Only then will I be able to participate in all tournaments, including Super 1000 events. That is my current focus and goal." He is currently under the guidance of coach Aravind Samiappan at Fireball Badminton.

Primarily a defensive player, Sankar exhibits a composed playing style characterized by subtlety, which makes shot-making appear effortless. However, the 21-year-old recognizes the necessity of enhancing his attacking skills to ascend to the upper levels of the sport, which has led him to Indonesia.

"I consider myself a defensive player who enjoys retrieving shuttles. However, in recent months, my attacking shots have become more precise and sharper. I am now attacking more than I did before. I need to improve in this area to maintain pressure on my opponents," Sankar remarked.

Since arriving in Jakarta on April 1, Sankar has been training alongside Indonesian youth under the tutelage of Harry Hartono, a former national men's singles coach in Indonesia, who has previously worked with notable players such as Jonatan Christie, a former Asian and All England champion, in a private training camp.

Sankar chose to train with Hartono after their initial meeting at the Indonesia Masters last August, where Hartono invited him to join the camp. They reconnected in February, during which Hartono informed him about the upcoming April camp. Recognizing a gap in his schedule, Sankar seized the opportunity.

This is not his first experience with international training. Two years ago, he participated in a two-week camp with the French team, working under their men's singles coach Kestutis Navickas and sparring with world No. 10 Alex Lanier.

Additionally, he has trained with Fernando Rivas, coach of three-time world champion Carolina Marin, and spent time in the Netherlands with Aram Mahmoud.

"I wanted to explore various training methods, approaches, and coaching styles to understand how different coaches operate and train," Sankar explained. He is set to compete next at the Taipei Open, Thailand Open, and Malaysia Masters in May.

Read Also: Karun Nair visibly frustrated after a disappointing three-ball duck against RR.

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!